What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

Maxie looks through swimsuits in the Crimson closet. Lulu says she’s busted.

On the phone, Nelle says, so if things don’t work out, she has no way to protect herself. Michael comes in, and asks who she was talking to. She tells him that it was a lawyer advising her on the prenup.

Chase goes to the hospital to see Finn sees, He says they need to talk about his mother and their father.

Obrecht tells Peter to quit sniveling. He says she sedated him again, and wonders what happened. She tells him that she’s moved him, and welcomes him to Spoon Island. They’re in the stables. He yells, like that’s ever helped.

Valentin finds out that the stable hand had a family emergency, and tells them that he’ll take care of the horses.

Drew finds Nina at the MetroCourt. He wants to talk about Aurora. He thinks Nina has been hiding something for the last few weeks.

Lulu thought Maxie was on parental leave, but Maxie says there was a problem with Crimson’s Instagram story. She asks if Lulu is implying she’s neglecting her son, and Lulu wonders what’s going on with her attitude. Maxie says, for one, Lulu barged in, saying she was busted. Lulu says she was teasing. She came here to see Nina and set up a visit with Charlotte. Maxie says it doesn’t feel that long ago that she lost her job trying to get Lulu the same thing. Lulu says it’s ancient history, and asks why Maxie is digging it up. She thinks Maxie is finding a reason to be mad at her. Maxie says she doesn’t have to look very far.

Nina tells Drew that she’s not hiding anything. He asks her to explain next month’s issue. He just had to talk a publisher off the ledge. The next issue is due at the printer tomorrow, and over a quarter of the letterhead space is unsold. Nina insists it was a communication breakdown. She says, It isn’t supposed to go until… and realizes it is tomorrow. She can’t believe this happened. Drew can’t believe the oversight. With that much left unsold, the magazine is going to hemorrhage money. They’ll have to cut features in the September issue. Nina says he can’t, but he says this is what happens when things fall through the cracks. He asks her, what’s going on?

Peter calls out he’s in the stables; someone help! Obrecht asks if he’s finished. She thought he’d appreciate a change of scenery. She and his father shared many happy times there – until he tried to gas her to death along with Lulu. Peter yells some more, and she asks him to kindly stop his banshee wailing. He tells her the horses need to be taken care of, but she says the equestrian staff won’t be there for the next few days. He asks if she’s going to keep dragging him from place to place forever. She says, forever is just a word. Everything comes to an end. When the story comes to a conclusion, so will he. She doesn’t want to waste the time they have. She looks in her bag, but can’t find her notebook.

Chase tells Finn not to worry about his parents’ impending visit. They’ve been invited to Germany. Finn says he wasn’t worried. He knows Chase was looking forward to seeing them. Chase says he tried calling Finn, but it went to voicemail. Finn says he’s not avoiding Chase; he’s been busy with something. Chase asks, what?

Nelle tells Michael that she wanted to make sure signing the prenup is the best decision. It’s not a corporate merger; it’s her life. They said it’s pretty straightforward with no red flags, but it seems unromantic to go in thinking it’s going to fail. Michael gets it, but it’s not his idea. She asks why he was so insistent then. He tells her the Quartermaine’s are protective of their fortune. Ned refused to officiate unless she signed it, but don’t take it personally. Everyone who comes into the family has to do the same thing. It only comes into play if they divorce, and he’s not planning on it. Is she? Nelle says she has no reservations about signing; it’s just a formality. As long as they’re together, the papers are meaningless. She signs it, and says, all done. Michael thanks her for being understanding. The only things left is to say their vows. Nelle says she has a lot to get ready for, and Michael tells her to put the prenup in a random drawer, and never look at it again.

Finn tells Chase it might have more to do with his area of expertise. Chase gets a text from Michael, saying, she signed the prenup; UR ON. Chase says he has to go, unless there’s a crime to report. Finn thinks he can handle it.

Nina apologizes to Drew, saying it won’t happen again. He tells her that he’s someone who cares about her, and thinks she didn’t take enough time to grieve. She admits to throwing herself into her work, but it suited her fine. Drew says, maybe, until this. She says they don’t know each other well, but assures him it’s an anomaly. He says, it’s not the end of the world. They can spread the deficit out over a few months. Nina says she’ll get the ads sold. He appreciates the effort, but thinks there’s no way she can do it by tomorrow. She says, watch her; she won’t let him down. Drew tells her, good luck, and leaves. Valentin walks in.

Lulu asks Maxie if they didn’t laugh and have fun, and weren’t they overjoyed with James coming home? Was she dreaming? Maxie says, it happened, and Lulu asks, what is this? How can they have a day like yesterday, and now Maxie is treating her like dirt? Maxie says maybe it’s because Nina’s assistant called her because they weren’t prepped, so she had to come to the place where Nathan was shot. It’s made her remember how he’ll never hold James, and James will never know him as anything but a photo. If the super journalist had thought it through, that could have been avoided. Lulu say she’s actually lost track of how long she’s been apologizing, and begging for Maxie’s forgiveness. Maxie says, five months; Nathan died five months ago. Lulu knows Maxie is living her worst nightmare. Maxie says Lulu thinks she’ll get over it, and they’ll go back to being best friends. Lulu says she stays up at night, wondering how she could have done things differently. Maxie says, join the club. Lulu says, she blew, and she’s sorrier than she can ever say. She wasn’t just bringing Faison out to further her career. She thought he would be arrested, and Maxie and her family would be safe. Maxie says, another Spencer plan goes down in flames. Lulu says every time Maxie pushes her away, then there’s a moment when she’s given hope, and thinks their friendship is back. Is it real or a game? Is it her version of revenge? She asks if she’s just supposed to take Maxie’s punishment forever. Maxie says Lulu is the one who treats her friends like garbage to get what she wants. She says, it’s not fair to give a deadline on grief, but Lulu wonders when she’s going to be forgiven. Maxie says, as usual, it’s all about her. She’s a self-righteous narcissist. Lulu says Maxie can say what she wants, but she’s trying. Maxie says she treated someone she said she cares about like garbage. She turns her back to Lulu, who throws a beachball at her. They start to fight with pool noodles.

Nina asks what Valentin is doing there, and he says, getting breakfast. She says he has staff to do that. He admits he welcomed the opportunity to bump into her, and she asks what his angle is. He says, no angle, and she asks if he’s done blackmailing her to stay in the marriage. He says running into her was serendipity. Charlotte wants to invite her to dinner. She says, now it’s emotional blackmail, but she knows better. Charlotte is staying with Lulu, who said she can see Charlotte whenever she wants. Valentin says it means a lot for her to stay in Charlotte’s life. Nina gets a call. When she steps into the hallway, Valentin says, 3… 2… 1… We hear Nina say, what?! She comes back and asks, what the hell did he do?

Obrecht says it must be here somewhere, and Peter suggests she dropped it when she was moving him. She says she thought she put it in her bag before she took him. She must have left it in the cabin. She has to go back. Peter says, maybe they came back for a second look. If they find the notebook, they’ll turn it into the police. She can’t keep cops away forever. It’s time to choose between her revenge and her freedom.

Nelle mopes on the couch, and Ned asks if she has bridal jitters. She says, guilty, and he tells her not to worry. At least about the wedding. He’s been trying to get Michael to relax and enjoy his final hours as a free man. He asks if she has anything planned, and she says she’s tying up odds and ends; she’s not in a celebrating mood. The prenup was a buzzkill; all clinical. He says she knows how it works in their family. Olivia did the same thing; she insisted. Nelle asks, what about him? He says the thought never occurred to him. He’s been married before, but knew this would last forever. It’s recommended, but not mandated. Olivia wanted to be no question that they weren’t getting married for money. He thinks it was a good idea. It takes the doubt out of marriage. He thinks Nelle made the right decision.

Nelle’s phone rings. It’s Chase. He needs to see her right now.

Lulu starts to throw a shoe, but Maxie stops her, saying they’re on loan for the Instagram story. Lulu puts it back gently, saying she doesn’t think it was damaged. Maxie says it was really close, and they laugh.

Nina says how dare Valentin? It’s outrageous, buying the remaining ad space for the August issue. He asks if he can be honest, and she says, why start now? as I would have said. He overheard she needed sales, and he wanted to be of assistance. Cassadine Enterprises has a robust ad budget. She hasn’t even looked at it. She reads a copy on her phone. To my darling wife… I’m sorry. My heart yearns for your forgiveness. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. Come back and make my life full again. (I might have paraphrased a tad there.)

Finn leaves another message for Anna, saying he’s on to something, but doesn’t want to explain in a message. He asks her to call him back. He sees Deanna bringing in Wyatt, who has poison oak. He says he’ll take a look. Deanna is surprised he doesn’t have anything more pressing, but he insists he has the time.

Chase meets Nelle on the docks. Shirtless, because he needed to get in his run. I roll my eyes. He tells her that he wanted to apologize for how he acted at the MetroCourt. He went too far. He meant everything he said, but it wasn’t fair to throw it in her face so close to the wedding. He was wrong anyway. Michael clearly wants a future with her and their child. He’s sure the Quartermaines will welcome her into the fold. She’ll be bringing new blood to the family. Nelle asks if he thinks that’s enough, and he says, all that matters is Michael wants to spend the rest of his life with her. He asks if she’s been given reason for doubt, and she mentions the prenup.

Drew arrives at the Quartermaine’s. He tells Michael that he heard he’s getting married; it’s kind of sudden. Ned says he can assure Drew that they all hounded him plenty. He says they’re going to put their reservations aside, and honor the Quartermaine tradition of sending a bachelor off in style. He asks if they are still getting married. He saw Nelle sulking, and thinks the prenup is getting under her skin.

Chase tells Nelle that he didn’t mean to upset her. She says it’s none of his business, but he says divorce scares him. How will she provide for herself? She says they’re not getting divorced, and he asks if Michael agrees. The more he hears about it, the more he doesn’t like it. She doesn’t have to go through with it. She asks what the alternative is, and he says they can still be together.

Ned says he has cigars with their names on them, and leaves to get them. Drew asks if Michael is going to break it to him that cigars make him gag. Michael knows how important traditions are with the Quartermaines. Drew wonders why everyone else seems more excited than Michael is.

Nelle says Chase can’t be serious. When they were at the courthouse, he was threatening her. Was it just romance? He admits his pride got the better of him. He was scared to admit how he felt when he saw her. She’d moved on. He shouldn’t have been afraid to tell her. She asks what makes him think she cares? He says it was now or never, and he’d kick himself if he didn’t. He says Michael is in it for the baby. He can get a divorce, and sole custody. Chase loves her. He can never give her the life she deserves, but he loves her. She says it’s not that easy. Michael is the father of her child, and they’ve planned a life together. Chase says they can raise the baby. They’ll find a place far from the Quartermaines and Corinthoses. They can do things right this time. He can give her the love Michael never could. She says Michael can give her something Chase can’t.

Maxie says she’ll never look at pool noodles the same way, and Lulu says she’ll help clean up. Maxie gets a message that the ad space was sold, and tells her to leave it. She says she doesn’t hate Lulu; she hates herself. She goes back and forth in her head, and knows Lulu isn’t the reason Nathan was killed. He was determined to lure Faison there to arrest him. If Lulu hadn’t written the story, he’d have found another way to track him down. Lulu says, but she did. Her fear of failure led her to take a shortcut. Ambition clouded her judgement. She can understand why Maxie wants to see her suffer. Maxie doesn’t want that, but at the same time, her happiness makes Maxie’s grief worse. She’s not proud of it, but when she sees Lulu with her family, she starts mourning all over again; for the family she’ll never have. Lulu says her life is less perfect and happy with Dante gone. Maxie says misery loves company, but she mostly thinks about how lucky Lulu is. The man she loves is coming home eventually. The man Maxie loves, never will.

Nina asks Valentin how he expects her to react? Be humbled? Touched? Grateful? He says they’re all great. She tells him the ads are not going in. He asks how she’s going to justify turning down revenue; it’s not that objectionable. She says he didn’t say their names, but people will connect the dots. It undermines her authority as editor-in-chief. He asks, how? Proving to the world she’d loved? She says she can’t trust him again. She doesn’t think he’s even aware of lying all the time. He says he never lied about loving her, and she says, he lied about everything else. The final straw was finding out he took an innocent child to seek revenge against Anna. She remembers being pregnant, and felt love. She never wants anything to happen to a child, like he feels about Charlotte. He took an innocent boy, and gave him to Faison. It changed how she’ll look at him forever.

Peter tells Obrecht, if the cops find the journal, they’ll know he was there with her. She says even if they connect it, they’ll never find them there. Really? Really? After they found Mike and Avery there, and it was the first place they wanted to look for Faison? Really? Peter says they’ve lost two chapters, and have to start over. Who knows how long they’ll be safe there? Obrecht says he’s cunning, but she has an excellent memory; thank you, Sodoku. She tells him, let’s pick up where we left off.

Finn wraps Wyatt’s arm, and gives him some cream, saying he’ll explain it to Wyatt’s mom. He wonders if he can ask Wyatt a question. Wyatt asks, what? and Finn asks if he could identify the man in the woods if he showed him a picture. He brings up a picture of Peter on his phone.

Lulu tells Maxie that she’s sorry. She never wanted to add to Maxie’s grief. Maxie knows, and she’s sorry too. She’s all over the place right now. Lulu says she wants to respect how Maxie is feeling. If it means giving her space… Lulu starts to leave, saying she wants Maxie to know she’s there, if she’s ever ready, and know she loves her no matter what. Maxie asks her to wait, and says she loves Lulu, no matter what. They hug.

Michael tells Drew that he thought it through, and given the situation, it seemed like the right choice. Drew asks, for him or his kid? and Michael says, what’s right for his kid is right for him. Drew trusts he knows what he’s doing. He thinks they should make an effort to try to act like family again. Michael likes it. Drew congratulates him, and they clink glasses.

Nelle tells Chase that Michael can give her stability and comfort. Why leave that behind just because he wants to whisk her away? She doesn’t want to make that mistake, and even if she did, how would they start a new life with Michael’s family looking for them? Chase says they’ll work it out. Nelle says she shouldn’t have come. She hopes he can move on. She has. He asks her to wait, but she jets.

Finn tells Wyatt to take his time, and look closely. Don’t tell him what he wants to hear, but tell him the truth. Wyatt doesn’t think it’s him, but Deanna interrupts before he can say more. Finn is needed in the ER stat. Finn tells Wyatt that his mother will get him in a second, and leaves. In the room alone, Wyatt says, it could have been the guy, but he had a beard. You’d think Finn might have thought of that. Being a junior spy and all.

Obrecht tells Peter that when they left their hero, all was lost. How is he feeling now? Peter says, useless, helpless, doomed. She tells him, don’t be so glum. Think of the novel as his legacy. It will outlast him, no matter what unfortunate ending comes his way.

Valentin tells Nina that he loves her, and she admitted she loved him too. They can fix anything. He has to take care of the horses, and tells her, if she wants, he’ll saddle Lumiere. He leaves, and Nina calls Obrecht.

Obrecht says Peter is holding back, and not to allow self-pity to interfere with the narrative flow. He says their hero was surprised to realize the things he’d chased – money, power, revenge – were all meaningless. He discovered what he loved most were moments – ice cream with an unexpected friend; laughing until your sides hurt, with a girl with sparkling blue eyes; a baby’s first breath and cry; the first time his mother reached out to hold him. Why, Octavian wondered, do we never understand life’s meaning and true value until we’re about to lose it all? Obrecht ponders.

Tomorrow, Jordan asks Stella for a favor, Nina tells Valentin that he can’t go home, and Mike tells Sonny that he’s gaining a daughter.

The Real Housewives of New York City

LuAnn rehearses with her accompanist. She didn’t expect to get arrested, and feels stressed that she only has four weeks to practice. She explains that her director worked with Liza Minelli, Chita Rivera, and other cabaret stars. I wonder if they’re hard-up for money. She says she’s lucky to be surrounded by a great team. Sonja will also be in the show to take the pressure off. The script is based on the story of LuAnn’s life, and the songs she likes to sing. Rachel Dratch will be involved somehow, but she doesn’t explain how that happened. The show is called #The Countess and Friends, just to mess with everyone who rags on her about being The Countess. Sonja arrives, thrilled to be a part of the show. She’s in her element. The director maps out what will be happening with Money Can’t Buy You Class. LuAnn will start telling a story, and Sonja will interrupt, saying that’s not how it happened. We see a clip from Sonja’s Caburlesque show. In her interview, LuAnn says Sonja will be wearing panties. It’s a snatch free zone.

Tinsley visits Carole, bringing her a present. Carole says Adam sent five dozen tulips. In her interview, Carole says it’s no secret Adam wants her back in his life, but she’s not sure how she feels. Tinsley gives Carole a pair of fingerless gloves that make a heart when you put them together. Carole says when her friend, Tripp, was walking Baby, Adam ended up coming back with her. Tinsley thinks it’s annoying that he’d walk in unannounced. Carole says break-ups are messy, and she wants to make it right. She’ll contact him when she has time. Scott is in town, and wants to live with Tinsley in New York. She wants to continue staying in the hotel, so they’re moving into the penthouse, which has three bedrooms. In her interview, Tinsley says they hung in during a year of long distance, now she’s happy to wake up next to him. She hopes she’s easy to live with, and Carole says, keep it cute. Good luck with that when you’re living together.

A package arrives. Carole has a friend who runs a matchmaking service, and it’s an invitation to her speed dating party. It’s really cool; a clear box with roses (about four inches of stem) in water. Like something the Queen would send out. They talk about who else could use a date in three minutes. Carole likes the idea.

Sonja drops by Bethenny’s place. Bethenny gives her another pair of Skinny Jeans. I’d call them burgundy, and Sonja declares them the color of the year. In her interview, Sonja says she’s not thrilled about Bethenny and Carole being on the outs, but she’s happy to be getting the jeans. In her interview, Bethenny thinks Sonja has no shortage of men, but needs to be strategic in her dating moves. Sonja wants to dip her toe in the dating pond, and has a profile online. Her flag is up, and it’s waving wildly.  Bethenny reads Sonja’s profession from the profile, and it’s a list of five thousand things. Bethenny tells her that it takes information from all the apps she has. She tells Sonja that no one looks at it anyway. The only look at the picture, age, and height.

Dorinda goes to Jovani. LuAnn needs something glam and wonderful for her cabaret act, and needs about ten costume changes. Dorinda says Jovani has been good to her over the years in lending her dresses, and she persuaded them to extend the favor to LuAnn. LuAnn wants to do a modern take on cabaret, and envisions different dresses for different scenarios. Dorinda wants her to look her best, and she does. Everything she puts on looks sparkly and fabulous, and there are a lot of mermaid hems. LuAnn is amazed that everything fits perfectly. Dorinda asks about court, and LuAnn says it was cancelled today. Her attorney wants to review the evidence. He’s hoping for no criminal charges, since she didn’t show criminal intent; she was under the influence, and not normally aggressive. She thinks having gone to rehab showed initiative, and is hoping for leniency, along with community service. Dorinda says, it will ultimately go where it’s going to go, which sounds like a bad fortune cookie.

Tinsley tells her precious little dog Bambi not worry about the suitcases. She’s not getting left behind. Tinsley’s friend, Michael, is helping her move. She tells him it’s the easiest move ever. She takes sweaters out of the oven, surprising both Michael and myself. I used to store extra dishes in the dishwasher, and admit to storing bakeware and the occasional box of cereal in the oven, but never clothes. I wish I’d thought of that with my first apartment, since the closet was a small triangle. But I digress… In her interview, Tinsley says she and Scott thought this should be the next step in the relationship. Michael stops her from just throwing really expensive shoes into a box. He refuses to watch as she does it anyway. She’s let Scott off the hook for helping, since he helped with the last move. In her interview, she says Scott is very much in charge at work, and she hopes him moving to New York puts them on a more equal level. him in charge at work. She shows Bambi around their new place. She says for once her clothes will be in a closet. In her interview, she explains she likes to always be with her man, and hopes this works out.

LuAnn meets Carole for coffee. They’re both boring coffee drinkers, just regular with milk. LuAnn is slightly more adventurous with cream. In her interview, Carole says she’s weirdly honored that LuAnn asked her to go for coffee after her meeting. LuAnn tells Carole that she’s been nesting. She’s supposed to stay away from people, places, and things, and is taking it day by day. The meetings help her to stay in line. In her interview, she says she doesn’t label herself. She makes a day to day decision not to drink, and she’s good with that advice. She tells Carole that the meetings encourage that she’s here for a reason, and to keep coming back. Carole asks being around other people drinking is cool, and LuAnn says it doesn’t matter if others drink. Carole says she thought it was a good move when LuAnn left he table at the Mayflower. LuAnn says not drinking is exhausting. She’d been burning the candle at both ends, and now she gets up early and does yoga. In her interview, Carole says she’s prepared to be a friend to this LuAnn, who understands her actions have consequences, and is trying hard to turn her life around. They talk about LuAnn’s upcoming cabaret, and Carole tells LuAnn to tell Sonja to wear underwear. LuAnn says she can’t play snatch-guard. She’ll be too busy singing.

Ramona meets a friend at the gym for a workout. In her interview, Ramona says the best thing about staying in shape is that you can wear anything. Truth! It sucks to go through a million outfits that don’t look right. Ramona says she hasn’t met the guy yet. She doesn’t know why she’s good with flirting, which she’d rather call, open to meeting men. She tells us that she has a high libido, which I didn’t need to know. The trainer helps with the machines. Ramona says she wants someone as smart or smarter than herself (which shouldn’t be too hard), but attraction is number one. Meeting men isn’t a problem, but meeting the right one is. Preach it, sister.

Dorinda and LuAnn pass the church where LuAnn’s AA meetings are held. They’re also near Dorinda’s church. LuAnn tells Dorinda that she’s keeping up the keeping up, but restaurants are the hardest. Dorinda says someone sent her a gift basket with wine, and it’s the first thing she thought of on a cold night. She’s proud of LuAnn. In her interview, LuAnn says it’s not easy. It’s like something you’ve learned for a long time, like brushing your teeth another way. It’s not the anxiety of not drinking, but the habit that you’re fighting. They go inside Dorinda’s church. She says it’s helped her get through difficult times. She likes to meditate, recalibrate, and refocus. She thinks it might be a good tool for LuAnn. They could go to church, and then have coffee. Dorinda shows LuAnn the candle she lit for her when she was in rehab. In her interview, LuAnn says Dorinda has been the most supportive. She thinks everyone’s thoughts and prayers together make a difference. Thank you. Dorinda tells LuAnn that Carole is doing a high-end super fun speed dating thing. She thinks LuAnn should come, just see what it’s like. In her interview, Dorinda thinks it might be good for LuAnn to go through the actions, but no real dating. She needs to date herself. The church looks familiar, but I didn’t see what street they’re on. They light a candle together, and Dorinda prays for strength for LuAnn.

It’s time for speed dating! Carole tells the matchmaker that she has six friends coming. Two are coming to observe, and the other four are in various stages of dating. The girls trickle in, with Ramona leading the pack, and latching on to a guy named Bryan before the dating even starts. Sonja says it’s amazing and mesmerizing to watch. In her interview, Bethenny says she and Dennis love each other, but he’s not capable of being a partner, so she’s open. It turns out she knows Bryan, and she says, the dating plot thickens. It’s the last place LuAnn wants to be, and Sonja asks a guy if she smells like mothballs. Tinsley says even if she wasn’t spoken for, no way would do this. She’s a Southern girl, and needs to be wined and dined. We flash back to the kiss she laid on Scott five minutes after meeting him. Carole finds out her date has kids, and it’s swipe left. Tinsley says Ramona’s got game. Dorinda says it’s like watching a fluffy kitty before it pounces on a tiny mouse. Bryan sits with Bethenny, and kind of hits on her. In her interview, she says it’s flattering, but he’s not her type. She doesn’t want to make herself like someone just because they like her. A guy asks LuAnn what she did for the holidays. She says she was supposed to go to South America, but didn’t make it.

Ramona kisses a dude for thinking she’s around 44, and it’s time to mingle. Carole didn’t meet the guy she wanted to (i.e. Bryan), because he was being devoured by Ramona and Bethenny. Ramona gets tequila for Bryan. A guy at the bar says he thinks Bryan likes Bethenny, but Ramona claims she’s just returning the favor since he bought her a drink. She slinks over with it, and makes a presentation. In her interview, Bethenny does an over-the-top, but accurate imitation of her. Tinsley tells a few of the girls about staying in Cartagena, Columbia, and wants everyone to go there with her. Dorinda only knows the scary things that happen in Columbia, and prefers places that have commercials, like the Bahamas. Tinsley shows pictures of the house she stayed in, and Carole says she had them at private island. Sonja talks to a guy about bondage. Carole tells everyone about the trip. Sonja can’t imagine not having an amazing time. Wow. Is she optimistic.

Next time, the Cartagena trip, Ramona gets a ride in a wheelchair, and Bethenny tells Dorinda that she doesn’t always have to share.

🍴 On MasterChef, the contestants made dinner for the wedding of the Season 7 winner, Shaun O’Neale. Juni and Julia were team captains, blue and red respectively, but something happened that I missed (because, dogs), and Taylor ended up taking Juni’s place. The red team undercooked the duck to the point where it was nearly raw, and needed to re-plate that for a few guests. Unfortunately, they’d made the genius move of throwing out everything that was left, and had to start from scratch. Miraculously, they still won. And we learned that service isn’t over until the last person leaves. On the losing blue team, Gordon deemed Taylor and Shanika safe from elimination. To everyone’s surprise, there was no pressure test. Gordon got right to the point, saying Ashley cracked under pressure, and Juni let go of his responsibility. It was Juni who was out, Gordon saying the team was doomed before they started. They had a bad concept and lost direction. Still, Juni gave a graceful exit, thankful for the opportunities. He said there weren’t many people who could say they cooked in the MasterChef kitchen, and that Gordon tasted their food. He thought he made his mom proud. Well said. Next week, it’s crawfish, and Aaron cooks alongside the chefs. It’s the shock of the season, and Joe says there’s more on the line than they thought.

🔥 A once vibrant town that had become desolate, Greenville, Mississippi was Gordon’s destination on 24 Hours to Hell and Back. Sherman’s, owned by the Nimrod family, had been a thriving business, but no more. Gordon made every joke possible about the Nimrod name, since it’s also slang for inept person. Even they recognized the wisdom in not changing the restaurant’s name when they bought it. Gordon did his disguise thing, and found the flounder to be funky; the food dull, bland, embarrassing, and atrocious; and no surprise, the owners argued these points. The hidden cameras revealed loads of cross contamination, and the usual cockroaches. The owners were resistant to change, but Gordon convinced them to give one of the staff the new position of running the kitchen. He also persuaded them, as only Gordon can, to stop arguing with the patrons and online reviewers, and not to allow the chef to use the microwave. Before he disappeared into the night, Gordon told them to watch out for 6’2” Scottish guys with beards. Three months later, the business is booming, and the online reviews are great. Next time, Hollywood and a very dysfunctional family. The whole 24-hour thing is really amazing.

🌌 Yep…